Conservatives

Attributing Palin's lead in the CHQ straw poll to her active online community of supporters or popularity at the grassroots strictly to her sometimes colorful speeches is much too shallow an analysis to explain Palin’s enduring popularity.

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The NSA and IRS scandals have shown Americans that the federal Leviathan has slipped its chains – it is now up to the limited-government constitutional conservatives of the Tea Party, libertarian and conservative movements to rally the people to bring it to heel.

“Right on Crime” exemplifies the big-picture conservative approach to prison reform. It focuses on community-based programs rather than excessive mandatory minimum sentencing policies and prison expansion. Using free-market and Christian principles, conservatives have an opportunity to put their beliefs into practice as an alternative to government-knows-best programs that are failing taxpayers and prisoners.

Conservatives known for being tough on crime should now be equally tough on failed, too-expensive criminal programs. They should demand more cost-effective approaches that enhance public safety and the well-being of all Americans.

In the final installment of "Why I'm A Conservative, Not A Libertarian," Writer Ben Hart says he's a "William F. Buckley, Jr. conservative" and argues that what conservatives are trying to conserve is nothing less than what has made America exceptional in world history. Please tell us what you think by posting your comments or submitting your rebuttal to chqeditor[at]gmail[dot]com.